The qualifications for grade 4, 4-A operators shall be education, training and practical experience consisting of: graduation from an accredited university or school with a bachelor of science degree with 30 credit hours of math and/or science or, graduation from an accredited university or school with a bachelor of arts degree with 30 credit hours of math and/or science; satisfactory completion of an appropriate course of instruction approved by the department; not less than two years of satisfactory experience in the actual operation of a wastewater treatment plant with a point score of 76 or greater, and facilities of the appropriate type; and the ability to conduct the routine laboratory and field tests required for the control of the operation of a wastewater treatment plant with such facilities. Substitution of approved experience or education may be made as detailed in the footnotes to tables 1 and 2 (section 650.12 of this Part).

The qualifications for grade 3, 3-A operators shall be education, training and practical experience consisting of: graduation from an accredited college or university with an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in a department approved curriculum; completion of an appropriate course of instruction approved by the department; not less than 18 months of satisfactory experience in the actual operation of a wastewater treatment plant with a point score of 56 or greater, and facilities of the appropriate type; and the ability to conduct the routine laboratory and field tests required for the control of the operation of a wastewater treatment plant with such facilities. Substitution of operating experience or education may be made as detailed in the footnotes to tables 1 and 2 (section 650.12) of this Part.

The qualifications for grade 2, 2-A operators shall be education, training and practical experience consisting of: graduation from high school or possession of a high school equivalency diploma; completion of an appropriate course of instruction approved by the department and not less than one year of satisfactory experience in the actual operation of a wastewater treatment plant with a point score of 31 or greater, and facilities of the appropriate type; and the ability to conduct the routine laboratory and field tests required for the control of the operation of a wastewater treatment plant with such facilities.

The qualifications for grade 1, 1-A operators and assistant/shift operators shall be education, training and practical experience consisting of: graduation from high school or the possession of a high school equivalency diploma; satisfactory completion of an appropriate course of instruction approved by the department; not less than six months of satisfactory experience in the actual operation of a wastewater treatment plant regardless of score, and facilities of the appropriate type; and the ability to conduct the routine laboratory and field tests required for the control of the operation of a wastewater treatment plant with such facilities.